I think I should be able to cope on my own. I didn’t tell my parents that once I took an overdose before going to bed. In the morning I told my mother that I had a bad headache and that I’d stay at home. But after a second suicide attempt I learned that keeping my problems to myself makes things worse. We had a family session with a therapist where I learned how to talk to my parents, and how the parents can approach me when they think that I am not well.
Thoughts about suicide as an option in human life are not uncommon.
Acting on suicidal thoughts is a different matter.
Your contributions
This is a lived experience page.
I am interested to hear from your own personal experience.
- What helps you to deal with suicidal thoughts and what stops you from harming yourself?
- If in the past you did harm yourself, what advice can you give others to stop thoughts from turning into a suicide action?
For young persons with lived experience
- How did suicide for you become a way to cope with negative feelings about yourself?
- How can young people become aware that hiding because of shame and pain behind a no-problem is no solution?
- What advice can you give to others??
- Please use the contact form below. Helpful contributions will be diplayed in the “What others say” section, and will appear with your initials.


Your contribution
What others say
N.S.
Ich möchte Ihnen ganz herzlich zu Ihrem tollen Buch gratulieren. Als Ärztin und Selbstbetroffene von Suizidgedanken und -versuchen möchte ich mich bedanken, dass Sie diese Thematik genau so beschreiben, wie es in Realität (zumindest für mich) ist. Ich wünschte, dass ich einen Psychiater gehabt hätte, der dies so verstanden hätte. Ein grosses Merci für Ihren Einsatz, Ihre Vorträge und Workshops.
Helpful links
-
ZERO REASONS WHY
The U.S.- based Zero Reasons Why project includes a community initiative that involves a teen counsel and lots of personal stories.
-
CRISIS TEXT LINE
The Crisis Text Line Project offers free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support, provided by volunteer crisis counselors trained in using active listening, collaborative problem solving, and safety planning to help texters in their moment of crisis.
-
BEYOND BLUE
Beyond Blue is a site that offers resources for suicide safety planning
-
SUICIDE CALL BACK SERVICE
The Suicide Call Back Service is an attractive Australian site providing professional 24/7 telephone and online chat or video counseling. You can download a Suicide Safety Plan app, and there is practical advice for what to do if you are with a person at risk.
-
VIRTUAL HOPE BOX
The Virtual Hope Box from the National Center for Telehealth & Technology is a well-designed smartphone application containing a large number of tools to help users cope with stressful situations. Users can add helpful contacts.